Tell us about changes

You should tell Kela as soon as possible of any changes in your circumstances that will have an impact on your allowances. That way, your allowance will be paid at the correct rate and you will not miss out on any payments you are due. If you don't tell us of changes, we may pay you too much allowance, in which case we will have to recover it back at a later date.

Change of address

When you move house, you can notify of the change of address to the Population Register Centre, the local register office or post office online at www.muuttoilmoitus.fi or by calling 0200 71000. You don't have to tell Kela your new address because Kela will receive it directly from the Population Register Centre. If you are receiving housing allowance, please submit information about your new address online by completing the application for reviewing the amount of general housing allowance. Also tell Kela if your child is moving in with the other parent and you are receiving child maintenance allowance or child benefit.

Change of account number

Change of account number can be submitted in the eServices (in Finnish) with respect to all benefits with the exception of disability allowance for persons under 16 years of age.

Working and earning wages during family leave

Working on weekdays (from Monday to Saturday) has an impact on the amount of maternity allowance and the mother's parental allowance. Working on Sundays has no impact on these. However, when you receive paternity allowance and father's parental allowance, you can only work on Sundays and bank holidays. If you work while receiving maternity, paternity or parental allowance, please notify the working days to Kela in the eServices (in Finnish) using your online banking codes or call 020 692 206. There is no need to notify the amount of wages. If you are working on Sundays or weekday holidays while receiving maternity, paternity or parental allowance, there is no need to notify Kela.

The whole family's income has an impact on the amount of the care supplement of child home care allowance (not on the care allowance). Tell Kela if there are any changes in the family's income.

Relationship changes: cohabitation, separation or divorce

Tell Kela when you move in with or separate from your partner in the eServices (in Finnish) or by calling 020 692 206. There is no need to tell about marriage or divorce because Kela will receive this information directly from the Population Register Centre. It is easy to use the calculators to find out whether the size of the family will have an impact on your benefits: www.kela.fi/laskurit.

Birth of a child

There is no need to notify Kela of the birth, name or personal identity number of a new baby. Kela will receive this information from the Population Register Centre. Child benefit is not increased automatically, but it can be applied online (in Finnish). Use the calculators (in Finnish) to estimate whether the size of the family will have an impact, e.g. on receiving housing allowance or the care supplement of child home care allowance.

Child goes to municipal day care or pre-school

Please notify of the end of child home care allowance and private care allowance when you know the date when your child will start to attend municipal day care or pre-school. You can cancel the benefit in the eServices (in Finnish) or by calling 020 692 206.

Requesting a revised tax card

If you order a revised tax card, the Finnish Tax Administration will send the revised tax card electronically to Kela. You do not need to notify of or send the tax card yourself unless you are using a tax card with income scales or if you want tax to be withheld according to your sideline income (e.g. in partial care allowance). Kela will also receive from the Finnish Tax Administration the new tax cards for wages that are sent out at the turn of the year.

Moving abroad

Tell Kela if your family is moving abroad. Also tell us if your child is moving abroad or to the Åland Islands.

Updated 12/13/12